Artemis

VOLUNTEER Lately I've been thinking about volunteering somewhere. When I have free time during the evenings and weekends, I often end up sitting around doing nothing. Not that I have a lot of free time these days. Volunteering may mean less evening babysitting, which is okay. I think being a volunteer would be much more rewarding. However, I have been searching and it seems the options here aren't exactly what I've been hoping for. Most opportunities are for working at stores. I want to volunteer for a cause or work with people. I'll keep searching for the right fit, because I think this would really be good for me.

UMBRELLA Every spring/summer I think about how much I want an umbrella. Yet when it comes down to buying one, I never do. I look at them at the store and then I think how I've survived many rainy days without one. But then it rains again on a hot day and I think about how nice it would be to walk in the rain... and I wish had an umbrella all over again.

TRIPLETS (and TIE-DYE ) About once every couple weeks, when I am outside with any combination of three of these four kiddos, I get asked if they are triplets. Especially when they are all wearing their hats. So I bet if they were all in these shirts, even more people would think they were triplets.

SAMUEL QUINN It's amazing how this sweet guy has captured my heart even though he is two states away. I miss him all the time. There's not a moment that goes by that I don't wish I could watch him grow like I am able to do with Greysen . It really makes me cherish every second I have with my sweet nephews. He will be 6 months old tomorrow and I think that he's going to be as smart as his cousin. He already is an anti-sleep because there is just too much to see and learn. Watch out Mama T and Dada T! I can't wait until I can hold and play with him again, only 23 more sleeps. Not that I'm counting down the seconds until I see my sweet Samwise .

RIVER One of the most beautiful things in nature, constantly moving, changing every second. It brings such pleasure to people for fishing, boating, swimming, photography. It also can be the most devastating thing in nature. Ravaging, destroying, soaking a town that is doing all it can to stay in tact. My heart goes out to my home state, all those fighting terrible floods on a moment's notice. Remember that when the water recedes, the river will reclaim it's beauty. And we can thank it for proving that North Dakotans are strong, resilient and fighters. And as a people and as a community, after the water recedes, you too will reclaim your beauty.

QUEST I am on a mission, a quest really, to find a guy to date. I believe in the idea that it happens when it's supposed to happen, it happens when you're not looking or when you least expect it. I think those all can be true. But I also believe that sometimes you have to make the leap, take the steps towards finding someone, have some initiative if you want your life to change. Things don't always happen when you sit on your ass and do nothing. So I am now searching on two free online websites. I'm not willing to pay, it works for some, but seems strange to me... plus I can't afford it. I have used one of the free sites for years and found some good guys on there, so I trust it. But it just seemed like nothing was happening. So I signed up for a second site and suddenly both sites are having a lot of action for me (not that kind, get your head out of the gutter). I'm finding interesting guys to write to (I am writing to anyone of interest, the worst that happe...

PARKER Parker is the sweet 18 month old girl that took the place when my other sweet girl left. She's been with me about 9 months now. I love this little spitfire. She's sweet and loving and cuddly... when you're looking anyway. She's a sneaky one. Obviously I have to leave the children alone (in a very baby-proofed room) on occasion so I can go to the bathroom or grab a snack for myself or get their lunch ready. And miraculously things happen when I'm out of the room, like the kids' shoes are on the other side of the room, my books are on the floor, diapers are all over the place, a kid is crying. How do I know it's Parker? When she hears me coming, she runs to the other side of the room and stands innocently like "Who? Me?" Recently she likes to tattle on herself. I'll ask what happened and she'll say "No-no." I'll ask, "Did Parker do a no-no?" And she answers "Yea." Gotta love the honesty at least. Her...